Hemant, a Langar Sewadar at Poshpatri, Jammu & Kashmir said, It is difficult to describe in words; there is a supernatural power here. Coming here brings a great sense of peace. Volunteers serve here for two months at a time; they receive support from their families as well as a great deal of support from others. And it is truly by the grace of Bhole Baba that we are able to render this service for two months. Another Langar Sewadar Devender Jolly said, We are all Shiv Sevaks from the Delhi Bhandara group; we have been organizing a ‘bhandara’ (community feast) at Poshpatri for the past 30 years. The ‘bhandara’ starts at 5:00 AM and continues until 10:30 PM. No money from any family is spent here, and the ‘bhandara’ (community meal) is free for all travelers. This is the only place between Sheshnag and Panchtarni where pilgrims need the ‘bhandara’ (community kitchen). Travelers arrive here after a climb; sometimes, if it is raining or they are exhausted, they stop here to have a meal and rest for a while before continuing their journey. Around 125 varieties of ‘langar’ are prepared, with a focus on food purity; only the highest quality ingredients are used, and strict hygiene is maintained to ensure that pilgrims receive a nutritious meal. Around 15,000 pilgrims are arriving daily from Chandanwari, and 10,000 to 12,000 come from Sheshnag; thus, approximately 25,000 to 28,000 pilgrims are arriving each day. This ‘Bhandara’ has been providing service for 30 years. You must have noticed the massage center; pilgrims who complete the arduous climb to MG Top—a trek comparable to half the ascent of Mount Everest—arrive here completely exhausted. Look at the crowd behind us—people who have stopped to rest—and you will see arrangements for physical relief, specifically leg massages. Separate tent arrangements are made for the ‘Babas’; many of them come here to stay. Sadhus arrive from various states across India—some even come from the South and do not speak Hindi, yet they have immense faith in the ‘Baba’. We also serve bakery items like bread, pizza, pao. It is all made right here, absolutely fresh. The yatris gets absolutely fresh bakery products. Among the sweets, there is a unique jaggery-and-sesame preparation designed to provide nutrition to travelers, along with warm liquids that nourish the body. There has been a significant rise in interest regarding the pilgrimage, and people find the ‘darshan’ (holy viewing) a wonderful experience, which is why the number of pilgrims has increased considerably. We receive excellent cooperation from everyone—including the J&K Police, ITBP, and the Dogra Regiment. Arrangements for water are fully in place, and we have made our own provisions for electricity; we have gensets and have also installed a turbine that generates 25 kilowatts of power daily. The administration is doing a great job for yatris; facilities are indeed improving day by day and the Shrine Board is doing excellent work.
